CostIndexUSA

College Station, TX vs Garden Grove, CA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableTX
College Station
91
overall index
$1,700/mo rent
CA
Garden Grove
113.6
overall index
$2,550/mo rent

College Station is significantly cheaper than Garden Grove — 24.8% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in College Station, you would need $99,900 in Garden Grove. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+126.9%
College Station
75.1
Garden Grove
170.4
🛒 Groceries+13.6%
College Station
93.8
Garden Grove
106.6
🚗 Transportation+8.4%
College Station
101.1
Garden Grove
109.6
🏥 Healthcare+8.4%
College Station
91.4
Garden Grove
99.1
Utilities+87.9%
College Station
84.4
Garden Grove
158.6

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in College Station to see what you'd need to earn in Garden Grove to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Garden Grove, CA
$99,900
$19,900 more needed in Garden Grove

Formula: salary × (113.6 ÷ 91) = salary × 1.2484. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

College Station, TX

Median Home Price
$301,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,700
Housing Index
75.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
14.8×

Garden Grove, CA

Median Home Price
$565,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,550
Housing Index
170.4
Price-to-Rent Ratio
18.5×

Garden Grove has 126.9% higher housing costs compared to College Station.

Income & Job Market

College Station, TX

Median Household Income
$54,700
Per Capita Income
$31,200
Unemployment Rate
4.8%
Population
120,511
Top Industries
EducationTechnologyHealthcareGovernmentResearch

Garden Grove, CA

Median Household Income
$92,000
Per Capita Income
$52,400
Unemployment Rate
5.5%
Population
171,949
Top Industries
HealthcareManufacturingRetailTourismTechnology

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

College Station, TX
2.7×income-to-rent ratio

63% of income left after rent (median)

Garden Grove, CA
3.0×income-to-rent ratio

67% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.